Apparatus for cutting lemons and the like.



APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETER-s (20.. PHOm-LITHO. WASHINGTON, D. c

' TED STA RICHARD THOMAS PAR-K, OF SOUTH MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING LEMONS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1914. Serial No. 839,761.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Rionxim THOMAS of Australia, whose post-ofiice address is 137 York street, in the said city of South Melbourne, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for Cutting Lemons and the like, of which the follow ing is a specification.

'j acent the This invention relates to apparatus for cutting lemons and the like and then extracting the pulp and juice therefrom and has for its object to provide an extremely simple, cheap, and eflicient apparatus whereby lemons and other fruit may be cut and the juice and pulp be extracted without inconvenience.

My prior invention disclosed by United States patent application Ser. No. 833,406 dated April 21, 191% comprises a machine whereby the fruit is'cut and the juice and pulp extracted therefrom mechanically. Such a machine, however, is practically limited to factory use wherein comparatively large quantities of fruit are used.

The present invention provides apparatus which is equally useful in either factories, shops, or refreshment rooms, it being extremely serviceable for treating either small or large quantities of fruit.

It consists essentially of a cutting device, guarding the fingers against accidental injury by the cutting device, and in extracting and collecting the juice from the fruit.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification :Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the invention. Fig. 3 is an end sectional elevation looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1.

The invention includes a base plate 2 above which are upstanding supports 3* one of which is provided with a bearing P. Carried by the supports 3 is a table 5 having around its edges upstandin lips or flanges 6 The upper surface a of the table 5 is inclined toward a drainage hole 8 therein. Beneath the drainage hole is a delivery chute 9 beneath which a glass, bucket or any other receptacle may be placed. Upstanding from the table 5 addrainage hole 8, isa cone-shaped bush 10 beneath which is a bearing 11.

Encircling the bush 10" is an upstanding collar 12 having. therethrough passageways 13'-.

Within the collar is a rotary extractor consisting of a. dome shaped head 14L having therein a cone-shaped recess into which the cone-shaped bush 10 passes. Depending from the head 14B is a spindle 15 passing through the bush 10 and the bearing 11* and having mounted upon its lower-end a bevel pinion 16*. Engaging the pinion 1.6 is a bevel wheel 17 mounted upon a shaft 18 which is mounted in the bearing ak a Protruding from the wheel 17 is a handle 19% I Extending from the table 5 is an inclined chute 20 having side lips or flanges.

21. At the upper end. of each side lip 21 is disposedan overhanging lug 22 Mounted in thelugs- 22 and extending therebetween is a pivot pin 23".

Pivoted to the pivot pin 23 is the upper portion 24 of a finger guard having an undercut lifting surface 25. Integral with the upper portion 24-? are two legs 26 hav- Patented Jan. '12, 1915.

ing therebetween a slot or passageway 27 1 The sides 28* of the, finger guard diverge outwardly as shown in Figs. 2' and 3.

Secured to the inclined chute 20 beneath the finger guard is a knife 2-9 having an inclined cutting edge 30-. The. knife may I be retained in any suitable manner and,if

desired, may be removable- With this invention the operator places the lemon against the surface 25 of the finger guard. The lemon is then grasped by the hands at each end and drawn down the inclined chute 20. As it moves downwardly the finger guard pivots upon the pivot pin 23 and rises and the lemon encounters the cutting edge 30 of the knife 29*. As it proceeds downwardly the said knife cuts the lemon into two pieces. Any uice passing from the fruit travels down the chute 20 and across thesloping upper surface 7 of the table 5 passing through the drainage hole 8*. The operator may now take one piece of the lemon and press it upon the dome shaped head 14 of the rotary extractor. The bevel wheel 17 is now turned by the handle 19 and the extractor rotates. The operator presses the piece of the lemon down upon the head as it is rotating thereby withdrawing all the juice" and pulp of the fruit from the peel thereof. The juice and pulp passes through the drainage hole 8 and is prevented from splashing or scattering outwardly by means of the collar 12 If desired, instead of extracting the juice and pulp from the fruit immediately it is cut, a number of lemons may be successively severed each into two pieces by the knife 29, the pieces being placed upon the sloping surface 7 of the table 5 around the collar 1%, and between it and the lips or flanges 6 Any juice passing from the fruit drains through the hole 8 and chute 9 into a suitable vessel beneath the said chute. After cutting a number of lemons the operator may rotate the bevel wheel 17 placing the pieces of lemon in succession upon the dome shaped head 14- of the rotary extractor.

It is obvious that immediately a lemon has passed the knife 29 beneath the finger guard the same will fall by gravity thereby preventing the fingers from encountering the said knife. The outwardly diverging sides :28 serve to direct the fingers grasping the lemon away from the knife 29 While the finger guard is rising.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of appliances as described may be placed side by side for use in factories all of the extractors being driven from a common shaft by power. Or the apparatus could be placed back to back, the extractors still being power driven. Further, an extractor may be provided for each chute and knife or a plurality of extractors may be used for each knife. Further, a single table may be used having a plurality of extractors and knives and a single drainage hole. In addition, the shaft of the apparatus illustrated could be driven or rotated by a treadle or by power. It is also to be understood that although a lemon is herein specified the apparatus is not limited to use therewith but may be used with other fruits and certain classes of vegetables.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus for cutting lemons and the like, the combination of a chute, a knife mounted longitudinally thereof, and a guard movably connected With said chute over said-knife and adapted to be moved away from the knife by the lemon as the latter is drawn past the knife and along the chute.

' In combination, a chute, a longitudinally disposed knife fixed in said chute, and a finger guard pivotally mounted over the knife in said chute and slotted to embrace the knife, and adapted to be lifted by the fruit as the latter is moved past the knife and along the chute, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a chute, a longitudinally disposed knife in said chute, and a slotted finger guard movably connected to the chute and adapted to be raised by the fruit drawn along the chute, said guard having divergent portions adapted to direct the fingers away from the knife as the fruit is drawn manually past the guard and along the chute, substantially as described.

t. In combination, a chute, a longitudinally disposed knife fixed in said chute, and a. finger guard over the knife having an upstanding portion pivotally connected to the ides of the chute and a slotted portion to accommodate the knife, said guard being raised by the fruit as the latter is drawn along the chute beneath the guard and past the knife, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aliiXed my signature in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

RICHARD THOMAS PAR-K.

l Vitnesses p CECIL M. PLASTRIU,

FRANK'II. OAIN.

Games et thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner" of Patents, Washington, Dvfi. 

